Box Score DURHAM, N.C. – Junior left hander
Matt Outman and senior right hander
Josh Vales combined to fan 16 hitters and held host North Carolina Central to a single run as Norfolk State opened the 2015 season with a 4-1 victory on Friday at the Durham Athletic Park.
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Outman struck out a career-high 10 hitters in six innings to earn the win. He allowed just one run, walking two. Vales picked up where Outman left off, pitching three scoreless innings for the save. He struck out six.
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Robbie Hiser and
Justin Lee each had two hits and an RBI for the Spartans, while
Ismael Herrera also recorded a pair of hits.
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The Spartans jumped on NCCU quickly, scoring twice in the top of the first off NCCU starter Jordan Quinn. Lee led off the first with a single and advanced to second when
Angel Rosario drew a walk. Both runners moved up on
Ian Horne's sacrifice.
Ryan Kilmon knocked in Lee with a groundout, and Hiser followed with a two-out RBI single to make it 2-0.
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NSU doubled its lead in the fourth. Hiser led off with a double to center field and scored on a passed ball. Three consecutive singles accounted for the next run. Herrera got it started with a single, advanced to second on an
Andre' Moore base hit and scored on Lee's second hit of the game.
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Outman, meanwhile, set down the first 11 batters he faced, seven by strikeout. He fanned the side in order in the second and third innings before NCCU finally got a baserunner in the fourth. With two outs, Troy Marrow singled and scored after three wild pitches by Outman. But that would be all the Eagles could must against NSU pitching.Â
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The teams play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.